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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-04-30 Daily Xml
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BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT PLANS

Mr KENYON (Newland) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. What was done to protect our state and our community during the fire danger season?

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:55): Today officially marks the end of the fire danger season across all 15 fire ban districts. Five of the 15 fire ban districts initially commenced restrictions early due to the continuing drought and low rainfall. Fires were reported as early as September, with significant fires occurring in October in the west of the state.

South Australia experienced a spate of unprecedented hot sustained weather in late January and early February. During this period, several substantial fires occurred across the state, and we know of the tragic events that occurred across the Victorian border.

I am advised that, since 1 July 2008, the Country Fire Service has responded to 6,393 incidents, with another 4,439 support responses. Of these incidents, 1,900 were rural fires. Some of the more significant fire events included: a hay processing plant fire at Paskeville, resulting in approximately $15 million worth of damage; grass and scrub fires at Penong, Danggali, Naracoorte, Wirrabara, Cobdogla, Onkaparinga Hills, Gawler River and One Tree Hill, with a combined total of approximately 26,700 hectares being burned; and a fire at Port Lincoln in Proper Bay involving approximately 250 hectares with damage to tuna factories, the waste depot and houses.

Throughout the fire danger season, the Country Fire Service utilised aircraft in support of fire management. These aircraft were generally contracted for an 84 day period, with the number being extended to cover the prolonged fire season and risk. In total, aircraft were tasked approximately 130 times and proved an effective tool in supporting firefighters on the ground.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the men and women who turned out to the 10,000-plus callouts. The contribution made by Country Fire Service and Metropolitan Fire Service members, as well as the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) and Forestry SA (FSA) to the state and to our community has obviously been great.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank South Australia Police for their efforts. In recent months, through Operation Nomad, they have been working tirelessly to ensure that our state is as safe as possible from the risk of fire. Operation Nomad uses highly visible policing strategies and community education to underpin a zero tolerance approach to reckless and illegal fire-causing behaviour. On high risk days, our police visit potential offenders identified through intelligence and maintain a highly visible patrol presence in areas of bushfire risk.

Police have found that, on days of extreme fire danger, the number of calls to the Police Communications Centre increases—not only the reporting of fires and signs of smoke, but also suspicious behaviour. Calls are received about dangerous behaviours, such as people using angle grinders, burning off in hazardous conditions, rubbish fires, and the like. The engagement of the public has been vital to the success of Operation Nomad.

We have also found that the number of serious bushfires in South Australia continues to decrease as the number of apprehensions for fire-related offences rises. The precise impact of Operation Nomad is, of course, impossible to quantify, but we do have empirical data that shows fire numbers are down and fire-related apprehensions are up.

There have also been examples of Nomad patrols catching people lighting bushfires. For example, in January this year, a Nomad patrol saw a male crouching in bushes at the roadside actually lighting a fire. He was arrested and charged. Similarly, in 2008, a Nomad patrol in the Riverland of South Australia paid a visit to a Nomad person of interest, but could not find her at home. They drove to a known fire risk area and found her in the process of lighting a fire. She was also arrested and charged.

Nomad patrols have also been the first to sight smoke or fire, giving the fire services an early opportunity to intervene swiftly. For example, a Nomad patrol was the first to see the Port Lincoln Proper Bay fire on 13 January this year.

During the 2008-09 fire danger season, 166 persons have been arrested or reported by police for offences related to bushfires, including deliberately lighting a bushfire, and lighting or maintaining a fire during the fire danger season. In addition, 87 persons have been issued with fines for breaches of the Fire and Emergency Services Act. All those involved in protecting our state during the fire danger season should be congratulated for their efforts.

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